On this day in 1978, a Nigerian businesswoman, actress and Singer, Stella Damasus, was born in Benin-City, Edo State, South-South Nigeria.
She grew up in Benin City where she completed most of her primary education.
At the age of 13, Stella moved to Asaba in Delta State with her family where she finished her secondary school education.
Damasus is a Theatre arts graduate of the University of Lagos.
Damasus started her career as a singer in Lagos where she used to work as a studio session singer at the famous Klink Studios owned by filmmaker Kingsley Ogoro.
There she honed her skills as singer and went on to do vocals for the top jingles on radio and TV in Nigeria at that time.
She first appeared in the Nigerian film Abused in 1992.
Her claim to fame, however, was her second movie Breaking Point produced by Emem Isong and directed by Francis Agu where she shot into superstardom across Nigeria.
She has gone on to star in over 70 movies and is now the co founder of I2radio and hosts two podcast shows, undiluted with Stella Damasus and when women praise.
She was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2009.
She won the Award for Best Actress at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards in 2007.
In 2012 She won the award for Best Actress for the movie Two Brides and a Baby at the Golden Icons Academy Awards in Houston, Texas, the United States of America.
Damasus married her first husband, Jaiye Aboderin, in 1999. The couple had two daughters before Jaiye died suddenly in 2005.
Damasus remarried in 2007, this time to Emeka Nzeribe.
The marriage lasted for seven months before a mutual agreement to divorce.
Stella Damasus turns 44 today.